Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone Opens This Month

It is so important to make sure that children have proper health care in facilities that are designed for them, not for adults. That includes emergency health care as well. I was recently invited to learn about the new Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital facility that’s opening this June, and they presented a panel called Parental (Self) Control: When to Log Off the Internet & Go See a Doctor.

I received a virtual sneak peek of the new Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital, and the theme of the facility is New York through a child’s eye. This starts off the lobby, when you enter the hospital, it’s like you’re entering NYC from the water. There’s a huge replica of the Statue of Liberty, using LEGO bricks, that greets patients in the lobby and the beautiful tiled mosaic floor looks like the sea.

7th Floor Lobby

Take the elevator up to the 7th floor, which offers resources for families. This is supposed to be Midtown Manhattan. There’s a replica of Prometheus, the ancient Greek Titan—god of forethought—also one of the best-known sculptures in Rockefeller Center. There’s also several Child Life Rooms. There’s a room for teens, a room for toddlers, a multi-sensory room and even an outside terrace called the Children’s Terrace, which offers as a contemplation garden where people can escape from the realities of their child being the hospital. Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital said they did this because families had said they needed a breath of fresh air. While my son was in the PICU of a children’s hospital for two days back in August, I know I needed a breath of fresh air during points of our stay. Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone Opens, Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone

The surgical waiting area of Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital is supposed to be Central Park. It really looked the part, with a mural of Central Park’s change of seasons and with the details of the indigenous bird’s native to Central Park in the trees.

Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital will have 68 single patient rooms for children. There are many benefits to single-patient rooms, including reduced risk of infection, more privacy for families, and a more efficient workflow for staff in each room. Each room is identical, which makes it easier for staff to find the supplies they need in the same place in each patient room. Patient rooms include sleeping space that can accommodate one overnight guest.

Surgical Operating Room

During the panel called Parental (Self) Control: When to Log Off the Internet & Go See a Doctor, we discussed topics including early intervention for children with autism, fad diets, vaccines, water safety & heat protection.

Photo Credit: Diane Nassy

“Intervention at a young age can raise a child with autism’s IQ by up to 20 points” says Dr. Helen Egger, chair of child & adolescent psychiatry. Dr. Egger gave us a behind the scenes look at apps being developed by NYU Langone, including one for picky eating whereparents can go on and figure out if their child is just a picky eater or is something else going on.

“The internet is both a blessing and a curse. Take info with a grain of salt. Be thoughtful,” said pediatric gastroenterologist Dr. Melanie Greifer. She talked about cleanses and fad diets that teens are doing – parents should be careful of these. Don’t let your kids do some of these crazy diets just because celebrities are doing them. She said the best thing to do if you have questions about eliminating things from your child’s diet, or are concerned about a food sensitivity or other GI issue, is to see a doctor.

I was surprised about this next point. Dr. Ethan Wiener, an expert in pediatric emergency medicine told us. “In pediatrics we see a lot more injuries related to the heat than we do related to cold.” He recommended for heat protection that children wear protective, light colored clothing, wear a hat, keep hydrated, and wear sunscreen. Water-related injuries can be prevented by fences around pools and direct supervision – as in, stay off your devices and watch children in water.

Dr. Adam Ratner, a pediatric infectious disease expert, also spoke to us. He expressed gratitude that his team can provide the best care for children with infectious diseases. He spoke about the eradication of smallpox and why they stopped vaccinations for it (because it’s gone).

And with vaccines, it’s all about the balance of the risks vs. the benefits. And while it was a bad flu season and the vaccine was only 30% effective, 30% is still better than 0%. The odds are higher that you will end up in the hospital or worse if you don’t get vaccinated against the flu.

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